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Lose Weight at the Supermarket

Lose Weight at the Supermarket

Grocery shopping is not a new thing for you. In fact, you’re probably there as many as a few times per week! But some seemingly unrelated things you do in the store—from whether you grab a cart or a basket to whether you pay with cash or credit—can make or break a healthy-eating habit. Follow these 10 tips next time you head to the store.

1. Make (and stick to) a shopping list.

1. Make (and stick to) a shopping list.

Seventy-six percent of shoppers make decisions in-store, but that can deplete your cognitive capacity, making impulse purchases more likely, says Deborah Cohen, MD, author of the upcoming book, A Big Fat Crisis: The Hidden Forces Behind the Obesity Epidemic. Prevent this by planning meals for the week before you go to the store so you know what to buy—and don’t resort to takeout. To build your list, Jen Haugen, a registered dietitian for the Austin, TX, location of the supermarket chain Hy-Vee, likes the app ZipList. Or order groceries online, suggests Dr. Cohen. It lessens mindless browsing (and impulse buys) because you’re forced to search for the items you need.